Jackalopes Extend Contract With County

ODESSA, TX– The Odessa Jackalopes hockey team is proud to announce they have picked up the option to extend their contract with the Ector County Coliseum for another five years. A unanimous vote in 2011 set this contract in place, and with the blessing of the Ector County Commissioners and the Coliseum Director, Aaron Martin, the Jackalopes are able to continue operations through at least the 2021-22 season.

The Jackalopes, members of the North American Hockey League, are ready to embark on their 21st season on the ice and are the anchor tenant of the coliseum.

“We are excited to be able to call Ector County Coliseum home for the future,” Team President Kevin Leisgang said. “First off, we would like to thank Ector County Commissioners and Coliseum Director, Aaron Martin, for their blessing to continue to operate at Ector County Coliseum. We look forward to continuing our efforts to help improve Ector County Coliseum not only for hockey games, but for every event that comes to Odessa. We look to continue to offer the community affordable family fun and continue to build youth hockey in West Texas.”

The Jackalopes have called the Ector County Coliseum their home since their inaugural season, 1997. The relationship, initially constructed with the help of former Coliseum Director, Don Thorn, has continued to thrive throughout the years under Martin.

“We’re excited that we’ve been able to play a part in keeping hockey in Odessa,” explains Martin. “Jackalopes games are a great family fun night out in town, I look forward to the coming years”

The Odessa Jackalopes remain one of the oldest hockey franchises in Texas to operate under the same name and building for its entire existents.

“That is something very special,” Leisgang says “To think, we have had the support of the city, county, endless sponsors and countless fans supporting hockey in Odessa is nothing short of amazing. We can’t thank the commissioners court, Aaron Martin, Don Thorn, the two previous ownership groups, and the community enough for the support they have given us from the start.”

The Odessa Jackalopes are pulling out all the stops to help improve the fan experience during games. The Jackalopes are putting in a brand new, larger, video board inside Ector County Coliseum and are updating the coliseum’s marquee on the corner of 42nd and Andrews Highway.

Jackalopes will embark on their 21st season in September.

The 2017-2018 Odessa Jackalopes season tickets are on sale now! To reserve your seats, contact the Jackalopes’ ticket office today at 432-552-7825 or log on to www.jackalopes.org for more information.